Mt.

San Antonio College

English as a Second Language Department

HOLISTIC ESL ORAL DESCRIPTORS

The proficiency indicators described below are designed to provide a quick, effective and holistic
scoring of oral proficiency. It is intended for instructor and tutor use as a general indicator of
student verbal communication skills and as a feedback tool. "Basic language structures" refer to
subject-verb agreement, verb tense usage, pronoun usage, noun-adjective agreement, sentence
negation, word order, question formation, article usage, and noun usage. In evaluating student
speaking ability, please take into consideration the amount that a listener must intervene in the
conversation in order to elicit responses from the speaker.

Pre-Level ƒ Responses barely comprehensible. Contains long pauses or incomplete

1 utterances.
ƒ Pronunciation interferes with communication.
ƒ Extremely limited vocabulary. Requires nonverbal cues to support
communication.
ƒ Little or no evidence of correct basic grammar structures/word order.
ƒ Requires repeated clarification. Little or no ability to understand spoken
English.
Level 1 ƒ Responses minimally comprehensible. Response may include very few words.
ƒ Pronunciation affected by first language, inhibiting communication.
ƒ May frequently repeat words and phrases.
ƒ Limited use of basic language structures.
ƒ Requires frequent repetition/clarification to comprehend spoken English.
Level 2 ƒ Responses comprehensible with repetition and/or clarification. Responses lack
fluency. Often pauses to search for words.
ƒ Pronunciation often affects communication.
ƒ Uses a minimal variety of vocabulary.
ƒ Uses basic structures appropriately about half the time.
ƒ Demonstrates comprehension of simple words/phrases from learned topics.
Level 3 ƒ Responses mostly comprehensible. Requires interpretation on the listener's
part.
ƒ Speech is choppy and/or slow with frequent pauses. Few or no incomplete
thought expressions.
ƒ Pronunciation occasionally interferes with communication.
ƒ Vocabulary too basic for fluent usage. Emerging use of basic language
structures.
ƒ Comprehends familiar information in standard situations.
Level 4 ƒ Generally comprehensible responses. May require elaboration.
ƒ Pronunciation rarely inhibits communication.
ƒ Able to express nearly all thoughts but has some pauses.
ƒ Uses a variety of vocabulary and high frequency expressions.
ƒ Uses basic language structure appropriately about 75% of the time.
ƒ Can comprehend implications beyond surface meaning (e.g. mood)
Level 5 ƒ Comprehensible responses. Requires minimal listener interpretation.
ƒ Some hesitation but continues and completes thoughts.
ƒ Pronunciation does not interfere with communication.
ƒ Adequate and accurate use of vocabulary.
Level 6 ƒ Responses easily comprehensible. Requires no interpretation on the part of the
listener.
ƒ Speech is continuous with few pauses or hesitation.
ƒ Pronunciation does not interfere with communication.
ƒ Rich, varied vocabulary use. Attempts at elaboration.
ƒ Control of basic language structures.
ƒ Demonstrates comprehension of conversation with native speakers.

Liza Becker 10/12/2009